By DPA
Sydney : Counting is almost over from a weekend general election in East Timor that didn't deliver a mandate for either the ruling Fretilin or CNRT, a brand-new party led by former president Xanana Gusmao.
The focus Thursday moved on to forming a coalition that would either give Fretilin another five years to sort out the massive problems that plague South East Asia's poorest country or invest that responsibility in a new prime minister.
As expected, the returns from outlying districts that gave Fretilin an early lead in the counting was whittled away by results from Dili, the East Timor capital, where support for Gusmao is strongest.
With over 90 percent of the ballots from 529,189 registered voters counted, Fretilin had 29 percent and CNRT was close behind with 23 percent.
Tipped to break the stalemate is third-placed ASDT/PSD led by Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo. The former independence fighter told reporters earlier this week that a coalition with CNRT was likely.
"There are no big differences that separate us from former president Gusmao," he said. But de Araujo surprised many this week when he said a government formed from all the major parties would be the best way forward.
"The difficulties between East Timorese are very deep," he said. "For the best, it's better to go this way."
Fretilin chief and former prime minister Mari Alakatiri, who vowed not to enter a coalition with CNRT, shot down the proposal for a government of national unity.
Damien Kingsbury, a political science lecturer at Melbourne's Deakin University and an official observer of the election, said he thought a coalition government led by Gusmao was the most likely result.
"Despite grumbling and a few accusations, the ruling Fretilin party gracefully conceded the presidency," Kingsbury said. "Privately, some of its senior ministers are now saying it's ready to accept the loss of control of parliament."
The general election comes a month after a presidential poll won by former prime minister Ramos Horta, a Gusmao ally. Nobel laureate Horta won in a landslide against a candidate from Fretilin, which has dominated East Timor politics since Portuguese rule lapsed in the half-island in 1975.
Fretilin led the 24-year struggle to split from Indonesia that brought independence in 2002.
Fretilin's poor poll results – it won 57 per cent of the vote in 2001 – was seen as retribution for losing control a year ago and being forced to call in an Australian-led peacekeeping force.